Taco Bell removing Naked Chicken Chalupa from menus soon

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The Naked Chicken Chalupa, a taco with a shell made out of spicy fried chicken, “will be a major Taco Bell product launch early on in 2017.” It debuted in late January, and now Taco Bell says the LTO item is coming off the menu in March. ( Nancy Luna, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Leave it to Taco Bell to launch a new buzz-worthy menu item, then rip it from the menu only a few weeks later. The Naked Chicken Chalupa, on the menu since late January, is on its way out sometime in March, according to the Irvine-based chain.

That’s one of the shortest limited-time offers I’ve ever seen by Taco Bell.

A spokesman for the fast-food chain, known for innovative Mexican inspired foods, said this is the “same length” of time most other “LTO” items stay on the menu.

The Naked Crispy Chicken Taco from Taco Bell

The Naked Chicken taco earned much buzz prior to its Jan. 26 nationwide debut. Last year, the taco with a shell made out of spicy fried chicken was first spotted at test stores in Kansas City, Mo. The flattened fried chicken is shaped like a round flour tortilla, with a little bit of bend, so that it can fold into the shape of a taco shell. It is stuffed with shredded lettuce, chopped tomatoes, shredded cheese and avocado ranch sauce.

Also being phased out soon: extra large soda cups. Earlier this year, Taco Bell said getting rid of the jumbo cup is part of a slew of New Year’s resolutions for the chain. Taco Bell will continue to offer three sizes of cups: 16 ounces (small); 20 ounces (medium); and 30 ounces (large). All three sizes are refillable.

Other commitments: By early 2017, Taco Bell plans to remove all antibiotics important to human medicine from its chicken across U.S. restaurants. Where possible, Taco Bell is removing preservatives and other additives from its food by 2018 across its U.S. restaurants.

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